Donovan Mitchell is Good to Go for Jazz's Game 6 vs. Mavs

The Jazz will have their star player on Thursday night.

With their backs up against the wall of playoff elimination, the Utah Jazz got some good news on Wednesday. Star guard Donovan Mitchell is likely a go for Game 6 vs. the Dallas Mavericks. 

Jazz Injury Report:

PROBABLE - Donovan Mitchell (bilateral quadriceps contusions)

OUT - Udoka Azubuike (right ankle surgery)

OUT - Trent Forrest (left midfoot sprain)

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) April 27, 2022

Mitchell exited Utah's Game 5 loss in Dallas toward the end of the fourth quarter with a thigh injury and Jazz fans have since been waiting on pins and needles to learn of his status in what amounts to an elimination bout on Thursday night. In this best-of-seven series, the Mavs hold a 3-2 lead over the Jazz. 

The Jazz are coming off a woeful road loss to the Mavs, falling 102-77. Mitchell played 32 minutes, scoring just nine points and shooting 4-for-22 from the field (0-for-7 from three-point land). 

Utah's 25-point loss was historically bad. Fans now wonder if this team has already given up the ghost on the 2021-22 season. 

The Mavs were able to win two of the first three games without their star player, Luka Doncic. But despite seeing the comportment of this team on Monday night with Mitchell on the court, the Jazz would likely have a snowball's chance in H-E-double-hockey-sticks of defeating Dallas without him. With Mitchell in the fold, the Jazz have a puncher's shot at keeping this series, and the season, alive and forcing a Game 7.

Game 6, if the Mavs prevail, could be Jazz fans' last chance at seeing Mitchell on the court with Rudy Gobert, if the intuition of ESPN's Michael Wilbon is correct. Wilbon foresees some changes coming to Utah if the Jazz are once again bounced from the Western Conference playoffs early and unceremoniously. 

“Utah is going away. They are going to blow that team up,” Wilbon said during an appearance on the Tony Kornheiser Show. “I don’t know if they are going to keep Donovan Mitchell and try to build around him or if they’ll trade Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. I don’t know the answer to that or if anybody does. I think it depends on the offers that are out there.”

The game tips at 8 pm MDT on Thursday night and will be televised on TNT unless the MIA/ATL and PHI/TOR series both go to a Game 6.

---

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen.